SmackDown Superstar Charlotte Flair recently spoke with the Ottawa Citizen to discuss how she got into wrestling, her reaction on fans hating her when she debuted and transition from Heel to Babyface. Highlights of the interview below.
On first giving wrestling a try: “It was April 2012, when The Four Horsemen were inducted (into the WWE Hall of Fame). I was in Miami with my little brother (Reid) and my dad. My little brother had been wanting to wrestle. He was working the independent circle. One of the agents at the time, Johnny Laurinaitis, was like, ‘Why aren’t you doing this?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know.’ It wasn’t something I ever thought about and dreamed about, it was my brother’s dream. I’m just happy I took a chance and he opened the doors for me to something I never thought would be possible.”
On fans initial hating her when she debuted: “When I debuted on the main roster, people just hated me. They were booing me. Social media got to me a bit. They were like, ‘She’s just there because she’s Ric Flair’s daughter.’ I was like, ‘Why doesn’t anybody like me?’ It really got to me. I had to make an executive decision and commit to being what people thought I was. If they think I’m going to be that way, act that way. So it was about committing to being, ‘Yeah, I’m Ric Flair’s daughter, yeah the dirtiest player in the game, yeah I’m entitled, yeah I got here without having to do anything.’ Now I just know how to turn up. It was more about understanding you’re just playing a role.”
On working as a babyface: “Since I am a babyface now, I am going to put all my energy into being the best babyface ever. My comfort zone and where I feel most natural is being a heel. My character could stay the same and people like my character versus disliking it. It’s more me trying to figure out how that works and staying true to my character regardless of what side I’m on. I do feel more comfortable as a heel, but I’m taking the babyface challenge on as much as I can.”
Charlotte also discusses finding motivation being Ric Flair’s daughter and the rise of female athletes in other sports.
You can read the full interview here.
What did you think of the interview? Have you enjoyed Charlotte as a babyface? Where would you like to see her character go next? Let us know in the comments below!
